2022/25475 - Youths detained in custody

REQUEST

 

I would like to know what procedures and protocols you have in place to safeguard youths who are detained within the custody suite. I would also like to know between March 2020- March 2021, the  total number of youths who were detained in a police cell overnight.

 

RESPONSE

 

There were 393 children detained in custody overnight during the period of March 2020 – March 2021

 

Gwent Police have the following procedures and protocols in place:

 

1. Appropriate adults are requested at the earliest opportunity and asked to attend custody.
2. Social services are contacted if parents/families/guardians cannot or will not attend.
3. Sgts must complete a checklist when every child is booked in, documenting the reason they are being detained rather than a less intrusive means.
4. Sgts are requested to obtain an update on the child’s case every two hours, instead of the longer timeframes for adults.
5. Health Care Professionals who work in custody will always speak with the child in private and discuss any health issues and safeguarding.
6. There is a monthly multi agency scrutiny panel that looks at all custody records involving children detained overnight (with the child’s consent) and provide feedback and areas of learning or improvement.
7. Sgts are asked to scrutinise thoroughly the grounds for detention and should only authorise a child into custody as a last resort. This is monitored through the above meeting and audits.
8. Children should be provided with a detention officer as a single point of contact for their stay.
9. Children are booked into custody in a private booking in area or the units are cleared for this purpose.
10. A Public Protection Notice is always sent to the Local Authority where the child resides, updating them of the child’s detention and any safeguarding issues.